Expensive turnaround: parking permits in Berlin could cost up to 120 euros!

Expensive turnaround: parking permits in Berlin could cost up to 120 euros!

In Berlin it could soon become significantly more expensive for residents to park their own vehicle. CDU transport senator Ute Bonde suggests increasing the fees for resident parking permits tenfold. The price is currently 10.20 euros per year, which, according to the senator, does not even cover the administrative costs. A new price of between 80 and 120 euros annually is considered “justifiable and good” by Bonde. This increase could be part of a comprehensive package that is currently being voted on internally within the coalition. Concrete decisions on the new parking fees are planned for the fall, which is likely to pose challenges for citizens and residents in Berlin.

The current resident parking permit allows vehicles to be parked in designated parking spaces that are specifically reserved for residents. Residents have the right to park their vehicles there for long periods of time. The ID card can be applied for at the responsible citizens' office in Berlin and lasts from several months to two years. The application is subject to a fee, as per Berlin city service is explained.

Political disputes and different views

However, the price increase is not without controversy. While the CDU calls for a comprehensive simplification of parking space management and the digitalization of surveillance, SPD traffic expert Tino Schopf is irritated by the CDU's proposals. He expects a rapid price increase to cover administrative costs, but expresses the desire for a clear concept for parking space management. Schopf has also called for the parking permit fee to be increased to 160 euros per year in order to generate additional income, which should flow into the expansion of footpaths and cycle paths as well as local public transport. This position contrasts with the demands of Bonde and the CDU.

The previous red-red-green government had originally planned to increase the fee to 120 euros. However, after the repeat election in February 2023 and the subsequent change of government, this plan was reduced to an increase of 60 euros. Conflicts within the coalition are to be expected, especially in the budget negotiations. Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) confirmed that there are different opinions on the amount of parking fees. Economics Senator Franziska Giffey (SPD) even goes further and has brought an annual fee of 365 euros into play, which could generate income of 76 million euros per year for the city of Berlin, according to the report from the taz.

Current revenue and comparison with other cities

There are currently around 210,000 resident parking permits in Berlin, which generates annual income of around 2.1 million euros at the current fee of 10.20 euros. In order to cover the high administrative costs and improve the traffic situation, there was discussion about increasing the fees. Cities like Bonn already charge the highest fees for residential parking in Germany, and Berlin could join this trend.

The discussion about parking fees not only highlights the financial aspects, but also raises questions about transport policy in the city. The tensions between political actors suggest that the upcoming decision in the fall could provide answers to numerous open questions regarding mobility and parking in Berlin.